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Proposed ^ 



PARK SYSTEM 



FOR THE 



Borough of Richmond, 



New York City. 



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HEIIPOI^T 



ON A PROPOSED 



PARK SYSTEM 



FOR 



THE BOROUGH OF RICHMOND 

New York City 

PREPARED and SUBMITTED BY 
THE COMMITTEE ON PARKS 

OF 

The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce 

With Map of the Borough of Richmond. 



DECEMBER, 1902. 






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in 2010 with funding from 
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Staten Island, Borough of Richmond, 
New York, Dec. 19, 1902. 

Mr. GuGY ^. Irving, 

President Staten Island Chamber of Commerce: 
Dear Sir : The Committee on Parks of the 
Staten Island Chamber of Commerce respectfnlly re- 
ports to you as follows, and in order to make a com- 
plete history of the movement in favor of the estab- 
lishment of a Park System in the Borough of Richmond, 
includes in its report the following call for a meeting 
to consider the matter : 

Staten Island, N. Y., October loth, 1902. 
DEAR SIR : 

The Commissioner of Parks for the Boroughs of ^Manhattan 
and Richmond, Mr. William R. Willcox, after having; made a 
careful examination of the Borough of Richmond, in company 
with the Hon. George Cromwell, President of the Borough ; Mr. 
L. L. Tribus, Commissioner of Public Works ; and Mr. Gugy /E. 
Irving, President of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, 
has expressed himself strongly as being in favor of an extension 
of the Park System on Staten Island. The Commissioner having 
asked for an expression of the views of the people of Staten 
Island on the subject of Parks, the Directors of the Staten Island 
Chamber of Commerce requested the President of the Chamber 
to appoint a committee to submit a plan of procedure. 

JNIr. Irving, accordingly, appointed Col. Charles H. Blair, 
Chairman, of Northfield ; Mr. Geo. S. Humphrey of West New 
Brighton, and Mr. Benjamin Brown of Stapleton, a committee. 

These gentlemen will be prepared to submit a report at a 
meeting to be held at the First National Bank Building, St. 
George, at 8 p. m., Thursday, October 23d. 



(4) 

The Committee extends to you an invitation to be present 
at this meeting and to give an expression of your views, either 
in a short verbal address or in an article addressed to the under- 
signed Secretary. 

Park Commissioner Willcox will be present at the meeting. 
Your attendance is respectfully requested. 
Your obedient servant, 

CORNELIUS G. KOLFF, 

Secretary. 



At a meeting held Oct. 23, 1902, in answer to the 
above call, the following report of the Committee was 
submitted and read : 

Staten Island, October 23, 1902. 

To the Members of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, 
and the People of Staten Island : 

The Committee appointed by President Irving respectfully 
reports as follows : 

The interest taken by Park Commissioner William R. Will- 
cox in the establishment of Parks, Parkways, and Public Play 
Grounds in the Borough of Richmond, is a source of pleasure 
and encouragement to all residents of Staten Island interested in 
the welfare of the community. Commissioner Willcox's juris- 
diction extends over the Borough of Manhattan, as well as over 
the Borough of Richmond, and it is re(.ognized by those who 
have given the subject attention that the time for the considera- 
tion of this important subject is well chosen. 

Staten Island has become a part of the great city of New 
York, and with the help of municipal authorities interested in the 
development and adornment of all the Boroughs of the Metropo- 
lis, the Borough of Richmond promises to keep step in the march 
of progress which is destined to make New York City one of the 
most beautiful as well as one of the most enterprising and pro- 
gressive cities in the civilized world. 

The Department of Parks receives its appropriations from 
the general fund or budget contributed annually by all the Bor- 
oughs of New York City, and thus Richmond has been contribut- 
ing since its annexation to the costs of the parks in Manhattan 
and the Bronx, as well as in Brooklyn and Queens. It is ap- 
parent, therefore, that the Borough of Richmond has some rights 
in the premises. 

■ The fact that a choice can now be had of some f)f the finest 
sites available for Park purposes, and at a minimum cost as com- 
pared with future prices, is an added reason why the establish- 



(5) 

menl of Parks can profitably be taken in hand at a time when 
the rapid increase in population and g-eneral development threat- 
ens to deprive us of some of the best sites available for such 
purposes. 

The subject of Parks, viewed on the broadest .t,rr,,unds of 
public policy and for the benefit of the future generations to 
come, naturally divides itself into two sub-divisions. 

First — What numl^er of acres are t(j be devoted to Parks ? 

Second — Where should they be located ? 
_ One way to answer the question involved in the first sub- 
division, is by a comparison with other cities of the world and 
particularly in the United States. 

New York City, including all the Boroughs, exclusive of 
Richmond, has in its Park System 6,800 acres. The Borough of 
Richmond at present has about sixty-one acres now set aside 
for Parks — fifty-seven for Silver Lake and two acres each for 
Port Richmond and Stapleton. 

The City of Boston is next largest in area of its Parks. 

Philadelphia has 4,005 acres. 

Los Angeles, California, has 3,620 acres, and next in the 
large areas is our adjacent district of Essex County, New lersev 
with 3,655 acres. ' ^' 

To state the comparison in another way, the records show 
that New York has 22 acres to every square mile of territory 

That Chicago has 12 acres to every square mile of territory 

Our neighboring County of Essex, New Jersey, has about 
30 acres to each square mile of territory. They have one park 
of 2,500 acres. 

Presenting another comparison as respects the number of 
persons to each acre of park land, among the larger communi- 
ties, \\ ashmgton City comes first, with one acre to every 78 
persons. ' 

Essex County (Newark) comes second, with one for every 
100 persons. ^ 

San Francisco, with one acre to each 128 persons, 

^linneapolis, " 140 " 

St. Paul, - 141 

Indianapolis, " 1-7 << 

Louisville, " jg, << 

Boston, '< 230 " 

Detroit, " 2 '•3 " 

St. Louis, " 272 " 

Cleveland, " 277 '• 

Philadelphia, " 5-0 " 

Buffalo, " 0-2 '< 

Baltimore, " 400 " 

New York, " -00 " 

Chicago, " 818 



It is thus shown that New York and Chicago have fewer 
acres in proportion to their population than any other places. 

The area of the Borough of Richmond is 57. 19 square miles, 
or reduced to acres it is 36, 6or. 6 acres. Your Committee be- 
lieves 10 per cent, of this area, or 3,600 acres, should be de- 
voted to Parks, Parkways, Parkway Approaches and Play 
Grounds, including the beaches for public bathing purposes, in 
the proportion of say, 5 per cent, for Parks proper, and the other 
5 per cent, for the approaches for Parkways and for Play 
Grounds. 

In considering the second sub-division : Where should Parks 
be located ? We believe the following facts should be con- 
sidered : 

(a). Sites offering play-grounds in the more densely set- 
tled portions of the community. 

(b). Sites offering the advantage of a beach resort, including 
bathing facilities. 

(c). Sites comprising some of the many attractive lakes. 

(d). Sites commanding some of the grand water and inland 
views for which Staten Island is far-famed. 

(e). Sites for Parkways adapted for driving and riding 
purposes. 

(f). Sites to protect the public water-sheds. 

In submitting these general outlines an effort has been made 
to meet the requirements of the different elements constituting 
the community, both as regards health, pleasure, and general 
utility. 

As regards the location of Parks, your Committee does not 
interpret the Chamber of Commerce resolution asking for its ap- 
pointment as directing the Committee to make any recommenda- 
tions as regards particular sites. These selections should only 
be made after a careful investigation into the views and require- 
ments of the residents in the sections to be especially benefited. 
For the purpose of accomplishing this, your Committee re- 
spectfully submits for your consideration the following resolu- 
tions : 

Whereas, The people of the Borough of Richmond, New York City, 
recognize the importance of the establishment of a system of public Play 
Grounds, Parks, and Parkways on Staten Island, and 

Whereas, It is believed that the proper time has arrived to ask for the 
establishment of public Play Grounds, Parks, and Parkways, and 

Whereas, The requirements of the different sections of the Borough of 
Richmond, to be benehted by the establishment of Parks, etc., should be 
ascertained by competent men, and submitted by the proper methods to 
our municipal authorities ; 



(7) 

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the President of the Staten Island 
Chamber of Commerce appoint a committee of twenty-five residents or 
property owners in the Borough of Richmond — five members to be selected 
from each of the five Wards, to select suitable sites for public Play Grounds, 
Parks, and Parkways in the Borough of Richmond ; 

Be it fiirt/ier Resolved, That the selections so made by the Committee 
be approved by a majority vote at a public meeting to be held in each of 
said Wards ; and 

Be it flirt lie}- Resolved, That said committee then present a list of the 
sites so selected to the municipal authorities, and on their approval to take 
necessar}^ measures to acquire the property at the earliest date possible; and 

Be it Resolved, That the Commissioner of Parks of the Borough of 
Richmond, Hon. William R. Willcox, the President of the Borough of 
Richmond, the Commissioner of Public Works for Richmond, the President 
of the Richmond County Park Commission, and the President and Secretary 
of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce be added to the Committee as 
ex-ofScio members ; and 

Be it further Resold' ed, That the Committee be known as the " Com- 
mittee on Parks " of the Chamber of Commerce, and that the Committee 
report as speedily as possible the result of its work to the Directors of the 
Chamber of Commerce. 

Respectfully submitted, 

(Signed) CHARLES H. BLAIR, 

(Signed) GEO. S. HUMPHREY, 

(Signed) BENJAMIN BROW^N. 

After the reading of the above report, an address was made 
by the Hon. W. R. Willcox, Park Commissioner, expressing- his ap- 
proval of the movement for the establishment of parks in the 
Borough of Richmond, and promising his support. 

Interesting remarks were also made by Dr. Arthur Hollick, 
President of the Richmond County Park Commission (known as 
the Silver Lake Park Commission) and others, and after a full 
discussion the report was accepted and approved, and the reso- 
lutions recommended in the report adopted. 

In accordance with the above resolution, you 
named the following members of the Committee on 
Parks : 

Ex-officio Members. 

Hon. William R. Willcox, Commissioner of Parks for 
INIanhattan and Richmond. 

Hon. George Cromwell, President of the Borough of Rich- 
mond. 



(8) 

Hon. GuGY AL. Irving, President Staten Island Chamber of 
Commerce. 

Dr. Arthur Hollick, President of the Richmond County 
Park Commission. 

Louis L. Tribus, Commissioner of Public Works of Rich- 
mond Borough. 

Cornelius G. Kolff, Secretary Staten Island Chamber of 
Commerce. 



CHARLES H. BLAIR, Chairman. 
TvV'x/ Ward. 

Mrs. George William Curtis, Livingston. 
William T. Davis, St. George. 

John M. Carrere, New Brighton. 
E. J. Wheeler, Westerleigh. 

J. Crawford, Jr., West New Brighton. 

Second Ward. 

Hon. Ferdinand C. Townsend, Clifton. 
Reon Barnes, Castleton Corners. 

David j. Tysen, Ocean Terrace. 

Harry M. Dunn, Dongan Hills. 

Benjamin Brown, Stapleton. 

Third Ward. 

Charles H. Blair, New Springville. 
Abram Steers, Willow Brook. 

D. B. VanName, Mariners Harbor. 

William J. Burlee, Port Richmond. 

William S. VanClief, Port Richmond. 

Fourth Ward. 

Charles L. Spier, 26 Broadway, N. Y. 

R. McLeod Cameron, Arrochar. 
Talbot Root, Clifton. 

R. W. Nelson, Giffords. 

J. W. Hughes, New Dorp. 

Fifth Ward. 

Hon. George Metcalfe, Great Kills. 
A. K. Johnston, Princes Bay. 

Hubbard R. Yetman, Tottenville. 

Huguenot Association, Huguenot. 

J. B. Kaiser, Richmond Valley. 



(9) 

Subsequently you appointed as a member of the T^ourth 
Ward Mr. George INIetcalfe, in place of Mr. Talbot Root, who 
was unable to serve. You also appointed as a member of the 
Fifth Ward Mr. Henry Seguine of Rossville, to take the place of 
Mr. George Metcalfe, assigned to the Committee of the Fourth 
Ward, on account of his change of residence from the Fifth 
Ward to the Fourth Ward, and you also appointed the Rev. David 
Junor to represent the Huguenot Association on the Committee 
from the Fifth Ward. 

Pursuant to a call, the Committee met at the First National 
Bank Building, St. George, Staten Island, on the 20th day of 
November; Mr. Chas. H. Blair in the chair. Cornelius G. Kolff 
was elected Secretary of the Committee. 

After a full discussion of the work to be performed by the 
Committee, it was agreed that the committees representing the 
different wards would meet for the purpose of formulating a plan 
for the establishment of parks in their respective wards; and after 
a number of meetings of the different Ward Committees were held, 
a conference of all the Ward Committees was held, at which the 
plans submitted by the different Ward Committees were ex- 
amined, discussed, and in some instances were changed to meet 
the requirements of harmony in the plan for the establishment 
of parks, embracing the whole Borough . 

On the iith day of December a meeting of the whole com- 
mittee was held, and at this meeting each Ward Committee pre- 
sented its report, accompanied by maps showing the sites se- 
lected for parks, parkways, and public play-grounds; and after a 
full discussion the reports were adopted and the Secretary of the 
Committee was requested to embrace all of the reports, made in 
a report to be made by the Committee of the Whole. This report 
was submitted to your Committee at a meeting held in the First 
National Bank Building on the 19th day of December, 1902, and 
is now submitted to you, together with the resolutions passed at 
this meeting, and accompanied by the separate reports made 
by each committee from the five wards, to which are annexed 
maps showing more fully the location and dimensions of the dif- 
ferent sites. 

The report and resolutions adopted at the meeting ot the 
19th of December, 1902, and which we now have the honor of 
submitting to you, are as follows : 



(lO) 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PARKS 

OF THE 

STATEN ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 

Adopted at a meeting held in First National Bank Building, 
St. George, S. I., December 19, 1902. 



INTRODUCTION. 

The establishment of a Park System in the Borough of 
Richmond, New York City, should be considered a public 
measure ; the benefits of which will be felt not only in the 
Borough in which these Parks are situated, but to a large degree 
in the Borough of Manhattan. When it is furthermore taken 
into consideration that the proposed Park System would embrace 
the highest point of land on the Atlantic Coast between Maine 
and Florida, and is the only point in the State of New York from 
which a grand ocean view can be obtained from so high an 
elevation, the establishment of a Park on Staten Island not un- 
like the establishment of a State Park at Niagara Falls, becomes 
a matter of interest to the State at large. 

As, a matter of general interest it should also be borne in 
mind that Staten Island embraces the most Southern point in the 
State of New York and contains many places of historic interest. 

Prompted by a feeling of pride in the great City of New 
York, of which the Borough of Richmond is an important part, 
an earnest effort has been made to formulate a plan for the es- 
tablishment of Parks which will reflect credit on the City of New 
York, as well as the Borough of Richmond. 

The experience of the past has shown that for many years 
the natural advantages of the Borough of Richmond have at- 
tracted large numbers of citizens from Manhattan to the view- 
commanding hills, the beautiful woods, the picturesque lakes, 
and the attractive seashore of Staten Island, a fact which leads 
us to believe that the establishment of Parks embracing the many 
beautiful points mentioned, if made easily accessible from Man- 
hattan, would prove attractive to a very large number of resi- 
dents of Lower and Central Manhattan, to whom the Richmond 
Borough Park System would be of easier access than for instance 
the Parks in the Bronx. 

Another feature of Staten Island which entitles it to con- 
sideration for Park purposes is the interesting fact that its native 
plant life includes about 1,200 species, some of them not found 
elsewhere in New York State. This is a larger number of 



species than is to be found in any other section of ecjual area 
in this State or any of the adjoining- States, and some of the rarer 
or more interesting- of the species could be preserved by inckid- 
ing their stations within the Park System. 

This unusual richness in vegetation is due not only to topo- 
graphic diversity but also to the fact that two well-detined 
geologic formations are represented on the Island, each differing 
from the other in the characters of its soil, and each supporting 
its own peculiar flora. 

The area to be embraced in the proposed System of Parks 
has been a subject which has received the most careful attention. 
Comparisons have been made with other cities of the United 
States and in Europe and with other sections of the City of New 
York, both as regards the amount of land to be contained in the 
Park System and the expense of acquiring and maintaining them, 
as well as the advantages to be derived from the point of view 
of the public health and the general development and progress 
of an increasing population both of New York City and the 
Borough of Richmond. 

It is considered to be a fact beyond the question of argu- 
ment that no more opportune time exists than the present one 
for the purchase of suitable sites, both as regards cost and choice 
of sites. 

The total area of the Borough of Richmond is 36,601 acres, 
and of this total it would appear that 3,500 acres, approximately, 
would be a proper area to be devoted to Parks, Parkways, and 
Public Play Grounds. 



GENERAL OUTLINE. 

In selecting sites it has been the purpose of the Committee 
to secure : 

First. — Sites suitable for public Play Grounds in the more 
densely populated parts of the Borough, and in close proximity 
to the public schools. 

Second.— Y-eixV sites that will serve the purpose of beach re- 
sorts, including bathing facilities, somewhat on the plan of 
Revere Beach near Boston. 

Third. — Park sites that will protect the water-sheds. 

Fourth. — Park sites which will embrace the many attractive 
grand ocean and inland views, which are a distinctive feature of 
this Borough. 

Fifth. — Park sites embracing the many pretty lakes. 

Sixth. — Parkways and driveways connecting the different 
parks and creating an harmonious general plan or system of 
parks, while at the same time serving the purpose of those fonc| 
of driving or riding. 



(12) 

Taking into consideration the geographical and topographi- 
cal features of the Borough and the distribution of population in 
the Borough and the close proximity of the large population in 
Lower Manhattan, a plan has been conceived for the establish- 
ment of what we beg to term live different sections, forming and 
completing an harmonious general system of parks. 



lE^IIBST. 



THE SOUTH SHORE SYSTEM. 

This system should commence at Clifton, with access to it 
by means of an extension of the present South Side Boulevard, 
from its Northern terminus at Parkinson avenue by way of the 
below-described Grassmere Park to a point at or near Pennsyl- 
vania avenue, and embracing "Grassmere Lake Park" of 55 
acres; "South Beach Park" of 420 acres, extending from the 
fortilications at Fort Wads worth to Midland Beach; "New 
Dorp Beach Park" of 125 acres, extending from the St. John's 
Guild property South to the beginning of Crook's Point ; the 
"Great Kills Park" of about 80 acres, facing on Great Kills ; the 
" Giffords Park " of 22 acres, embracing a part of the so-called 
Wiman property, and extending by a parkway from near the 
station at Giffords to the Park site, extending from the Boulevard 
to the East Shore; the "Woods of Arden Park" of 90 acres ; 
the "Prince's Bay Park" (embracing the State Quarantine prop^ 
erty) 35 acres, and the "Tottenville or Christopher Billop Park" 
of 30 acres (including the historic Billop House and the Bay Cliff 
Park property), at the Southern terminus of the Amboy road. 
All of the above mentioned parks, constituting the South Shore 
Park System, and to be connected with each other by means of 
the South Side Boulevard, which terminates near the Woods of 
Arden at the present time, but an extension of which through the 
Fifth Ward from the Woods of Arden to Tottenville, is hereby 
recommended. 



SiECO^NTID- 



HIGHLAND OR OCEAN VIEW SYSTEM. 

This system is to follow in a general line the chain of hills 
commencing with Pavilion Hill at Tompkinsville, near the 



(13) 

Northern end of the Ishind, and terminating with the Bay Cliff or 
Christopher Billop Park, overlooking^ the Staten Island Sound 
from the Bluffs at Tottenvillc, near the Southern end of the 
Island — including^ the Pavilion Hill Park of i6 acres at Tomp- 
kinsville ; the Grymes' Hill Park of i6 acres, extending from 
Howard avenue to the Richmond road ; the Horse-Shoe Bend 
Park of 30 acres on the Ocean Terrace ; the Great Central or 
Ocean Hill Park of 1,500 acres (including the highest point of the 
Island, known as Ocean Hill, and including Meisner Hill and 
Latourette or Richmond Hill). This park to extend in its length 
approximately from the intersection of the Ocean Terrace and 
the Todt Hill road to Richmond on one side, and in its width 
from the hills back of the Moravian Cemetery to and across the 
summit of Ocean Hill to the Northern slope of the Manor road. 

The next park of this system extends in a Southerly direc- 
tion to the Green Ridge or Woodrow Park 300 acres, including 
the Rossville Park of 10 acres, and the Pleasant Plains Park of 
350 acres (intended to protect the principal water-shed of the 
Fitth Ward), terminating with the Tottenville or Christopher 
Billop Park, mentioned before under the heading of the South 
Shore Park System. 

In considering a suitable parkway for the purpose of con- 
necting these different parks embraced in this system, it is sug- 
gested to use : \\'ard avenue, Occident avenue, Louis street and 
Ho^vard avenue to connect Pavilion Hill Park with Grymes Hill 
Park, and to continue thence Southerly along the Serpentine 
road, crossing the Clove valley, through the Clove Park to Elling- 
wood avenue, and thence via the Ocean Terrace to the Horse- 
Shoe Bend Park, or by constructing a drivew^ay from a point on the 
Serpentine road at the entrance to the Cunard or Bellevue prop- 
erty, through the latter to the edge of the bluff, overlooking the 
Clove pass ; thence by means of a viaduct across the Clove 
pass to the property known as the Unger or Bernheimer prop- 
erty on the South side of the Clove pass, and thence by proper 
course to the Ocean Terrace. 

Beyond the Horse-Shoe Bend Park the Ocean Terrace is to 
be used as a driveway until the intersection of the Todt Hill 
road and the Ocean Terrace, where a new driveway would have 
to be constructed, following the summit of Ocean Hill, until by 
means of its Southern slope the intersection of Rockland avenue 
and Egbert avenue would be reached, whence Meisner Hill road 
could be utilized partly, in following the crest of what is known 
as Meisner Hill or Richmond Hill and terminating at Latourette 
Hill above Richmond. 

In addition to the above driveway, this Central Park, or 
Ocean View Park System, is traversed by other main thorough- 
fares, such as Egbert avenue, the Manor road, Rockland avenue, 
and other roads, all of which make this large park easily accessi- 
ble from all parts of the Island. It should also be borne in 



(14) 

mind that the greater part of this park will be accessible by 
means of the Midland trolley as it now exists, and would be 
served by a trolley almost through its centre, were the Midland 
trolley now terminating near Eckstein's Brewery on the Manor 
road, extended via the Manor road, Egbert avenue and Rockland 
avenue to Eijbertville. 



TSZHKID. 



PORT RICHMOND OR WILLOW BROOK PARK SYSTEM. 

This park system is to begin at the Richmond Terrace, near 
where Palmer's Run enters into the Kill van Kull, and is to em- 
brace the land between the Richmond Terrace, Jewett avenue, 
and Columbia street and Post avenue, to be connected by park- 
way [as hereinafter described] running from North to South en- 
tirely through the Island, with a park of about 50 acres, to be 
established on both sides of the Willow Brook, North and East 
of Willow Brook road. 



iiF^OTTIKTH. 



THE CHAIN OF LAKES OR CLOVE VALLEY SYSTEM. 

This system is intended primarily to protect the water- 
sheds of the First and Second Wards, and is to embrace the 
Silver Lake Park enlarged, the Clove Valley from the intersection 
of the Clove and the Little Clove, including Crystal Lake, Clove 
Lake, Brook's Pond and Bodine's Pond. 

This Park System is easily accessible by the different 
branches of the electric roads on the Turnpike, Castleton 
avenue, the Clove road, the Manor road and Jewett avenue, as 
well as the Shore Road trolley. 



it^iie^te:. 



THE NEW YORK BAY AND KILL VAN KULL SYSTEM. 

This system embraces a number of scattered parks fronting 
New York Bay and the Kill van Kull, and intended primarily to 



(15) 

reserve for park purposes certain points along- the shore of the 
Bay and the Kill van Kull, which command attractive views of 
the Harbor and the Kills. 

The parks in this system are to embrace the Clifton Park in 
front of the INIarine Hospital, and extending- from Bay street to 
the tracks below ; also the New Brighton Park, extending from 
the intersection of Stuyvesant Place and the Richmond Terrace 
to Westervelt avenue from Richmond Terrace to the railroad 
tracks below ; also the Snug Harbor Park, embracing the meadow 
and dyke formed by the bend of the Richmond Terrace, between 
the Snug Harbor boat-house and the Livingston station ; this 
park being particularly available for a public recreation pier and 
landing for boats and pleasure craft, and possibly for bathing ; 
and finally the Arlington Park of 23 acres, embracing a beach 
front particularly well adapted for bathing, and for a recreation 
pier, pleasure boat landing, etc. 

This completes the system of parks. 



PARKWAYS. 

Now as regards Parkways, your Committee is of the opinion 
that they should be fashioned wherever possible after Common- 
wealth avenue in Boston, being 150 feet in width and having a 
space devoted to trolleys in the centre of 40 feet, with a row of 
trees on each side of this, roadways on each end of these each 
40 feet wide, with a row of trees between them and the side- 
walk, which is to be 15 feet wide. 

These Parkways in a general way are to connect the differ- 
ent park sites, with a view of forming an harmonious system. 

One of the principal ones should be a parkway running 
from North to South through the centre of the Islantl, from the 
Kill van Kull to the Lower Bay, fashioned, as just stated, after 
Commonwealth avenue in Boston, and more particularly de- 
scribed as follows : 

Beginning at Richmond Terrace, near where Palmer's Run 
enters into the Kill van Kull, and comprising all the land be- 
tween Jewett avenue and the land of Alfred DeGroot, and thence 
running Southerly along Palmer's Run at an equal width from 
Jewett avenue to Post avenue ; thence Southerly across Palmer's 
Run to the line of the German Church, from thence along the 
line of Palmer's Run, at a width of 150 feet to Barrett avenue ; 
thence in a Southwesterly direction across Barrett avenue to 
Cherry Lane, near Marianne street ; thence still in the width of 
150 feet across Palmer's Run to Watchogue road; thence 
southerly still in the same width to Richmond Turnpike ; thence 
still southerly to the road called the New Road going to Noble's 
Corner ; thence along: said New Road to Rockland avenue, at 



(i6) 

its juncture with Forest Hill road, near where it will connect 
with the Central Park ; thence Southerly to Richmond Court 
House by the best route that can be selected by the Commis- 
sioner of Public Works ; thence southerly to tide water. 



PUBLIC PLAY GROUNDS. 



As regards these, an effort has been made to locate them as 
near as possible in close proximity to the public schools, where 
they might serve the purposes of a play-ground for the children 
during the day-time, and the purposes of a place of recreation 
for adults during the remainder of the day and evening. In se- 
lecting these sites the Committee has been guided entirely by 
the wishes of the different Ward Committees ; each sub-com- 
mittee deciding where the sites should be located, as in accord- 
ance wi-h their own knowledge of the localities which they 
represent. The public play-grounds selected are as follows : 



FIRST WARD. 

First — Public play-ground near Public School No. i6 on 
Madison avenue ; the site selected comprising a block 2oo:!f40o 
feet, between Fourth, Madison and Monroe avenues, forming 
part of the Alexander D. Shaw property, and 300 feet distant 
from the above-mentioned public school. The ground is now 
laid out as a garden, and has growdng on it a number of trees, 
shrubs, etc., and could be converted into a park at comparative- 
ly little expense. 

Second — Site near Public School No. 17. This site immedi- 
ately adjoins this school, has a frontage of 900 feet on the 
Southerly side of Prospect avenue, a depth of approximately 
1,350 to 1,400 feet on the Westerly side, and 1,150 feet on the 
Easterly side, and a frontage on Brighton avenue ; besides this, 
there is access to the property by way of Tenth, Eleventh and 
Twelfth streets. Sunset Place, Alden Place and Cedar Place. 
This property embraces the Jones' and Havens' parcels — 26 acres. 

Third — Site near the West Brighton Public School No. 18. 
This site comprises a large part of the area formerly known as 
Factory Pond, and fronts on Henderson, Chappelle, Union and 
Ann streets ; the portion nearest to the school being about 200 
feet distant from the public school site. This site is in the midst 
of a very densely-settled portion of West New Brighton — 6 acres. 

Fourth — Site near the so-called Curtis School No. 19 on 
Greenleaf avenue, near Post avenue, and embracing a part of the 
Parkway connecting the Port Richmond Park with the proposed 
Clove Valley Park System. 



('7) 

Fifth — A site comprising- the so-called picnic grounds at 
Westerleigh or Prohibition Park, embracing- approximately 7 
acres of ground, covered with a very fine growth of trees. This 
site the National Prohibition Park Company has generously 
offered to dedicate to the city for the uses of a park, and it will 
answer the purposes of a park as well as the purposes of a play- 
ground for the new school to be established at Westerleigh. 

SECOND WARD. 

First — Public play-ground near Public School No. 15, on the 
corner of St. Paul's avenue and Grant street, Stapleton. The 
play-ground in question to embrace the so-called Louis Dejonge 
property facing on Grant street and Van Duzer street, and em- 
bracing approximately 2^^ acres. 

Second — Public play-ground near the Stapleton Public 
School No. 2 ; said play-ground to be situated 'on the West side 
of Centre street, and embracing a plot out of the Marine Society 
property of about 8 acres. 

THIRD -WARD. 

First — An extension of the Park at Port Richmond as much 
as one block, including therein the property marked in Robinson's 
Atlas of the Borough of Richmond, page 5, as property belonging 
to Mrs. John Decker and Mrs. I. F. Brown. Fml)racing ap- 
proximately 3^ acres. 

Second — A play-ground at Port Richmond, opposite the 
Union Free School, and marked on said map as land belonging 
to INIrs. John Decker and Sharratt. Embracing 1J2 acres. 

Third — A park and play-ground at Mariners' Harbor, ad- 
jacent to the school and known as Norwood Park, consisting 
of about 8 acres. 

Fourth — A play-ground at Graniteville, surrounding the 
school-house. Embracing about 5 acres. 

Fifth — A play-ground and park at Bull's Head, being the 
Northeast corner, between Richmond avenue and Richmond 
Turnpike. Embracing approximately 10 acres. 

Sixth — A park and play-ground at Linoleumville, as follows : 
Land belonging to Mr. Sanderson at the entrance of the village 
of Linoleumville, and running from Richmond Turnpike South 
to the Fresh Kill Creek, and containing together about 12 acres 
of upland and about 3 acres of salt meadow. Embracing in all 
about I 5 acres. 

Seventh — A play-ground at New Springville, surrounding the 
school. Embracing approximately 5 acres. 

Eighth — That part of Erastina Park, commencing at lot No. 
100 on the East side of INIaple avenue, running South to lot No. 



(i8) 

68 ; also lots 34 and 67, inclusive ; also that property marked as 
of Jacob I. Houseman, Garret P. Wright, and Mrs. Aaron 
Decker. Embracing approxin\ately 1 8 acres. 

FOURTH WARD. 

First — ^Public play-ground near the Rosebank School. 

Second — Public play-ground near Public School at the 
corner of Sherman avenue and the Fingerboard road, Fort 
Wadsworth. 

Third — Public play-ground near Public School at Concord. 

Fourth — Public plav-ground near Public School at Dongan 
Hills. 

Fifth — Public play-ground near Public School at New 
Dorp. 

Sixth — Public play-ground near Public School at 
Egbertville. 

Seventh — Public play-ground near Public School at 
Giffords. 

FIFTH WARD. 

First — At Tottenville. As this school-house is not distant 
from one of the large parks proposed, it is not suggested that a 
plot be provided adjoining the school-house. It is, however, 
suggested that in a somewhat distant portion of Tottenville — that 
is, the Northeast portion — a tract of 8 acres be selected for the 
people on the J. W. Wilbur property, between Broadway and 
Oak street, West of Hart Heights. Say about 8 acres. 

Second — At Richmond Valley. We suggest a plot of 10 
acres adjacent to the school. 

Third — Prince's Bay. We judge that here a park not ad- 
joining the school grounds, and yet not distant, will better suit 
the community, and would suggest about ten acres from what is 
known in the neighborhood as Excelsior Park. 

Fourth — Kreischerville. Embracing about 10 acres. 

Fitth — Huguenot. Would suggest here a park of about 10 
acres on the Eddy property, opposite the school grounds. 

Sixth — Rossville. About 10 acres. 

Seventh — Fresh Kills. About 10 acres. 

An eighth school is projected, to be called No. 31, and to be 
located at Bogardus Corners. The site recommended by the 
school authorities for this new school will contain five acres, 
which will afford sufficient play-ground for the neighborhood. 

At Seguine Point, Prince's Bay, we would suggest a plot of 
say 6 acres to the West and South of the Prince's Bay road, on 
the property known as the old Seguine Homestead, and in front 
of the said homestead. 



(19) 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION. 

FIRST WARD. 

Silver Lake and Crystal Lake Park. 

An enlargement of the present Silver Lake Park to em- 
brace the property between the Lake, Griswold Parkway, Green- 
wood avenue, Laurel avenue, and Lakewood avenue, extending 
the park in a westerly direction by means of a parkway approxi- 
mately 200 to 300 feet wide, situated on both sides of the brook 
or creek which forms the outlet for Silver Lake, until the proper- 
ty owned by the Crystal Water Company and surrounding 
Crystal Lake is reached ; the last described property including 
Crystal Lake, and extending as far as the Clove road to be em- 
braced in the park. Embracing approximately 70 acres. 

Clove Valley or Chain of Lakes Park. 

This park is to include the property constituting and sur- 
rounding Clove Lake, Richmond Lake, Brook's Pond, and 
Bodine's Pond ; being approximately described as embracing the 
property to the P^ast of Clove Lake as far as the Clove road, and 
extending from the Turnpike to St. Peter's Cemetery, and em- 
bracing all of the property to the West of Clove and Richmond 
Lakes ; extending to the ridge of the hills, embracing a part of 
the properties of Cornelius DuBois, the Lowndes estate, Henry 
Segelke, and James G. Timolat. On the East side of Richmond 
Lake the St. Peter's Cemetery and the Actors' Home would sug- 
gest the advisability of constructing a driveway alort 100 feet 
wide along the Eastern side of the Lake as tar as Martling Lane, 
to the North of which the park is to extend in a Northerly direc- 
tion embracing Brook's Pond, including plot No. 5 of the Van 
Clief property, the Richmond Ice Company's property to the 
North of Martling Lane, as well as a strip 200 feet wide on the 
Easterly side of Brook's Pond out of the Whaley, Schnaar and 
Brooks property. Continuing along the brook forming the out- 
let from Brooks' Pond, it is suggested to take a strip of land ap- 
proximately 200 feet wide on each side of the brook, until the 
turn in the brook, where the property of L. Griffith, Adam Scott, 
A. A. INIichell, C. C. King and the ]Manor Park Land Company, 
as far as Cherry Lane, should be included in the park. Total 
160 acres. 

To the North of the INLmor road a parkway at least 100 feet 
wide on each side of the brook should be continued as far as 
Post avenue ; South of which the parkway is still to be con- 
tinued along the brook until its confluence with Palmer's Run, 
and near the point where Bodine's Pond commences ; this latter 



(20) 

pond to be included in the park system ; extending as far North 
as the Richmond Terrace, and including- and embracing the 
property of Alfred DeGroot and others. Embracing approxim- 
ately lo acres. 

Fort Hill Park. 

This Park should embrace the historic Fort Hill property 
including a part of the Herpich and Low properties bounded by 
Fort Hill Place, Westervelt and Sherman avenues. 



SECOND WARD. 

Pavilion Hill Park. 

Pavilion Hill, which, as indicated by its name, is a hill, 
bounded by the Richmond Turnpike, St. Paul's avenue, and Fied- 
ler avenue, reaching an altitude of approximately 200 feet, and 
commanding an unobstructed view of upper New York Harbor 
and the surrounding New Jersey cities, New York City and the 
ocean ; this plot embraces approximately 16 acres. 

Gry/iies Hill Park. 

From Pavilion Hill it is proposed to construct a driveway 
along Ward avenue, Occident avenue, Orient avenue, Louis street 
and Howard avenue to the intersection of Eddy street, where it 
is proposed to establish the Grymes Hill Park, which is situated 
between Howard avenue and Richmond road, and embracing 
the properties of George T. Bonner and the Ward Estate ; making 
a total of approximately 16 acres. 

Cloz'e Park. 

The parkway is then to continue along Howard avenue and 
the Serpentine road to the Clove road ; there intersecting the 
Clove park, which is to consist of the properties of A. L. Barber, 
Mrs. J. Aymar and Norah Cahill, forming the triangle bounded by 
the Little Clove road, the Clove road and the Richmond Turnpike, 
and embracing, excepting the Crystal Water Company pumping 
station, approximately 83 acres. 

Horse Shoe Bend Park. 

Continuing the driveway from the Little Clove road along the 
Ocean Terrace until the summit of Todt Hill is reached, at or 
about the property marked as belonging to John Burger Estate on 
Robinson's Atlas, where the Horse Shoe Bend Park embracing 
approximately 30 acres is to be established, including the pro- 



(21) 

perty of the John Burger Estate ; the property formerly of N. 
Burger, and a part of the property owned by H. McRoberts. Em- 
bracing approximately 30 acres. 

Grand Centra/ or Ocean Hill Park. 

Continuing along the Ocean Terrace to the intersection of the 
Todt Hill road, the driveway at the latter point would intersect 
the Grand Central or Ocean Hill Park. I'his park is to embrace 
territory of approximately 1500 acres; extending, as shown on 
the accompanying map, from the Todt Hill road in a Southerly 
direction and on a line with the rear of the Vanderbilt Mausoleum 
plot to Rockland avenue ; while on the North and West it is to 
take in a strip of land to the North of the Todt Hill road as far as 
the Manor road ; and thence a strip of land varying in width along 
the Northerly and Westerly line of the Manor road as far as Rock- 
land avenue, embracing the high bank on both sides of the 
I\Ianor road ; thence crossing Rockland avenue, and continuing 
about parallel with the Forest Hill road as far as the road leading 
from Richmond to New Springville ; this Park to extend to the West 
of Richmond along the Northerly side of the Fresh Kill to Simon- 
son's mill ; including and embracing the site of the old Fort, 
which during revolutionary times commanded the approach to 
Richmond by way of the Fresh Kills ; excepting, however, the 
property owned by St. Andrew's Church and occupied in part as 
a rectory by the rector of St. Andrew's. 1500 acres. 



THIRD WARD. 

Bodine's Park and JJlI/oic Brook Park. 

Bodine's Pond Park is to embrace Bodine's Mill Pond and the 
property between it and Jewett avenue, extending thence by 
means of a dri\'e\vay iollowing Pa'nier's Run as far as the inter- 
section of Cherry lane, and thence b\- a straight line and in a 
Southerly direction crossing the Watjliogue road and the Turn- 
pike to where the Willow Brook Park is to be established ; this 
Park to be bounded by the proposed driveway on the East, the 
Turnpike on the North, and the Willow Brook road on the West 
and South ; this Park to embrace approximately 50 acres. 

Continuing in a Southerly direction, the driveway is to follow 
the line of the new road and the Forest Hill road as far South as 
the intersection of the road leading from Riclimond to New 
Springville, where the driveway will intersect the Crai.vKentral 
or Ocean View Park. 

Arlington Park. 

A water-front Park at the foot of Arlington avenue, consisting 
of 329 feet of water-front together with the lots lying between the 



(22) 

Richmond Terrace and Franklin and Arlington avenues, and the 
lots situated on the Easterly side of Arlington avenue numbering- 
I to 199 inclusive, up to the Rapid Transit Railroad, otherwise 
known as Arlington Manor. Embracing approximately 25 acres. 

Port Richmond Water-Front Park. 

This Park should embrace that part of the Johnson or Hous- 
man property, near the foot of Nicholas- avenue, extending from 
the water front, with a frontage of about 500 feet, to the Rapid 
Transit Railroad tracks. 



FOURTH WARD. 

T/ie South Beach Park. 

A Park extending from the fortifications of Fort Wadsworth 
to the Northerly boundary of Midland Beach ; this area embrac- 
ing approximately 420 acres and having a width of approximately 
1800 feet; this Park to be known as the " South Beach Park. " 
Embracing approximately 420 acres. 

N'e7Cf Dorp Beach Park. 

A seaside Park extending from the Southerly line of St. Johns 
Guild property at New Dorp to the Northerly line of the Perrine 
property at Oakwood, embracing approximately 125 acres, with 
a width of 1800 feet. Embracing approximately 125 acres. 

Great Kills Park. 

A tract of 80 acres, embracing a part of the property of Cor- 
nelius Cole, Richard Cole, John J. Crooke and Edward Keegan, 
and facing on the Great Kills and surrounding Seaside Boulevard ; 
intended primarily as an outlet to the Great Kills, to meet the 
requirements of the population between Oakwood and Giffords. 
Embracing abou.t 80 acres, 

Giffords Park. 

A Park at Giffords extending from the South Side Boulevard 
to the Raritan Bay and embracing approximately 22 acres, 
known as part of the Wiman property, with 600 feet of water- 
front ; also parkway to Great Kills depot through Lindenwood 
avenue. Embracing approximately 22 acres. 

Woods of Arden. 

A Park at Eltingville, known as the Woods of Arden, from the 
Amboy Road to the Raritan Bay, consisting of about 90 acres. 



(23) 



Grastnere Park. 



Property known as the Grasmere Lake property at Gras- 
mere, consisting- of about 55 acres of land, including- the Gras- 
mere Lake. Embracing approximately 55 acres. 



FIFTH WARD. 

Ch'istopher Billop Park. 

At Tottenville, a very beautiful location on a cliff on the 
shore of Staten Island Sound, meets the approval of the Com- 
mittee and of all with whom they have conversed in Tottenville. 
It would embrace : Bay Cliff Park, 8 acres; property of C. S. 
Piddle, 2 acres ; property of W. K. Felch, i J^ acres ; Ice house 
property (with fresh-water pond), 25 acres ; other property ad- 
joining on the south as far as Cartere avenue, and to Sixth street 
on the east — this includes the historic Billop House ; the prop- 
erty of David Forshay heirs ; Catherine S. Leland, i ^2 acres ; 
Henry Winant, 2 acres ; in all, approximately, 80 acres. 

Rossville Park. 

At Rossville, from the Henry L. IMason property, or adjoin- 
ing property on the shore, say 10 acres. This is intended to 
supply a small park with water facilities and privileges on the 
Arthur Kill to the people of Ross^'ille and Kreischerville. 
About 10 acres. 

Pleasant Plains Park. 

The Pleasant Plains proposed Park — Here is an area for the 
collection of water with a catchment basin of we suppose about 
350 ticres. It would be wise to park this for the safety of future 
water supply. It is to the west of the Manee blacksmith shop, 
which stands on land described on the map as belonging to Israel 
Bedell. Embracing approximately 350 acres. 

Prince s Bay Park. 

At Prince's Bay, the State Quarantine Cemetery on the 
Wolfe property belongs to the State of New York. All the 
bodies have been removed, and it seems probable that the 
Commissioners of the Land Office, who have attempted to sell 
this property without success, may be induced to donate it to 
Richmond Borough for park purposes. Besides an excellent 
frontage on the lower bay, it adjoins a fresh-water lake of say 
about 10 acres. Embracing 35 acres. 

Green Ridge Park. 

At Woodrow Heights, near the Methodist Church. — This 
property is on high ground, midway between the villages of 



(24) 

Rossville on the north, and Pleasant Plains, Prince's Bay and 
Huguenot on the south. Would select property near the Powell 
Mansion, and running along the Green Ridge Road. It is a 
■beautiful site for a park, having an extended view. Would sug- 
gest the selection in this locality of say approximately 300 acres. 



RECAPITULATION. 

PLAY-GROUNDS. PARKS. 

Plrst Ward 41 acres. . 248 acres. 

Second Ward 10^ " 1,6451^ " 

Third Ward 63 1< " 75 

Fourth Ward 21 " ' 792 " 

Fifth Ward 74 " 775 

Total .... 209^ acres. Total 3,535)4 acres. 



CONCLUSION. 

For fuller description of the different parcels enumerated 
above, see map attached to this report, as well as the maps at- 
tached to the reports made by the different Ward Committees, 
which are in charge of the Secretary of this Committee. 

Suggestions were made that some of the parks should be 
named after former prominent residents of Staten Island, and in 
that connection the following names were mentioned: 

Daniel D. Tompkins, who was Vice-President of the United 
States for eight years, and Governor of New York for four years; 
Major Theodore Winthrop, the novelist and soldier, who was 
killed while leading a charge in the first battle of the Civil War, 
the battle of Big Bethel; George William Curtis, the distinguished 
scholar and writer; and Erastus Brooks, the editor and patriot. 
And while your Committee feel that such names would be most 
appropriate, they think that it may be premature at this time to go 
into the matter of names, and therefore do not in this report 
seek to give names to any parks, or parkways ; merely to fix their 
locality. 

Respectfully submitted, 

CHARLES H. BLAIR, Chairman. 

Cornelius G. Kolff, Secy. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRE 



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